BETWEEN PRIDE AND HEART

The late afternoon sun hung low over Kano, casting a golden glow on the university’s old brick buildings. The air carried a mix of dust and roasted groundnut scent from nearby stalls, as students hurried across the campus. Zahra Yusuf tightened her grip on her bag and quickened her steps. She had just finished her shift at Mama Sani’s provisions shop in Kofar Nassarawa and raced straight to campus. She glanced at her phone. 4:15 PM. Fifteen minutes late. Ya Allah, she prayed silently, let this professor be in a forgiving mood today. The seminar room for the business department buzzed with quiet conversation and the faint hum of a ceiling fan struggling against the heat. Zahra slipped inside, adjusting her hijab. Every head turned toward her, but one gaze in particular felt like it pierced straight through. He sat at the head of the table crisp white shirt, dark trousers, and a wristwatch that probably cost more than her school fees for a semester. His posture was relaxed, but his eyes were sharp. Aminu Bello. He leaned back, his voice carrying the kind of confidence that filled a room. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced with a faint smirk, “our final team member has arrived. I was beginning to think she got lost on her way from… the market.” A few students chuckled under their breath. Zahra froze, heat rising in her cheeks not from embarrassment, but from pride burning like a flame. She straightened her back and walked to the empty seat across from him. “Where I came from,” she replied evenly, “is called a workplace. You know… that thing some of us do to pay for school.” The room went still. Some students exchanged surprised looks. Aminu’s smirk lingered, but his eyes narrowed slightly. “So, the ‘shop girl’ also does business presentations now? Interesting.” Zahra leaned forward, voice calm but firm. “Yes. And if you’re lucky, Mr. Bello, I might even teach you how to win without looking down on people.” A faint murmur spread through the group. Aminu’s jaw tightened, but there was a flicker something between challenge and curiosity. Before he could respond, the professor entered, calling everyone to order. As Zahra opened her notebook, she could still feel his gaze on her. And she knew… This was only the beginning.